Dworshak & Brownlee Hydro Operations For Snake River Fall Chinook Greg Haller Nez Perce Tribe DFRM 208-843-7320 ext 2434
[email protected] Introduction Salmon managers generally agree that flow augmentation from storage reservoirs in the Columbia Basin provides some benefit to the survival of out-migrating juvenile fall Chinook by reducing the travel time through mainstem hydroelectric projects where the fish are subjected to warm water temperatures and predators. In the Snake Basin, flow augmentation operations for juvenile fall Chinook occur at Dworshak Reservoir and Bureau of Reclamation storage reservoirs in the upper Snake River and tributaries. SRBA Water As part of the 2004 Nez Perce Water Rights Settlement (Settlement), formally known as The Snake River Water Rights Act of 2004, Public Law 108-447, the Bureau of Reclamation obtains flow augmentation water from uncontracted storage space, powerhead space and water leased from willing sellers. The Settlement calls for up to 427 acre-feet of flow augmentation from storage reservoirs plus 60,000 acre-feet of private natural flow rights, for a total of up to 487,000 acre-feet. The duration of this action is 30 years, beginning in 2005 and lasting through 2034. In 2005, the Bureau of Reclamation received a Biological Opinion from National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) which concluded the proposed actions were not likely to jeopardize the continued existence of 13 Columbia River basin salmon Evolutionary Significant Units (ESUs) and steelhead Distinct Population Segments (DPS) listed under the Endangered Species Act. However, after litigation by American Rivers and others (American Rivers v. NOAA Fisheries), U.S District Judge James Redden held that NMFS’ 2005 Upper Snake BiOp contained flawed analysis and did not comply with the ESA and issued an Opinion and Order of Remand with instructions to revise the consultation to correct deficiencies.